Applications are open for the Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027, a fully funded six-week professional development programme hosted by Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham.

Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the fellowship is designed for mid-career professionals from eligible European countries who have demonstrated leadership potential and professional experience in defence, security, cyber policy, resilience, governance, intelligence, law enforcement, academia, policy or related fields.

The programme brings together professionals from across Europe for an intensive learning experience focused on leadership, strategic decision-making, organisational resilience, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and international cooperation.

About the Fellowship

The Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship provides participants with an opportunity to examine some of the complex security and defence challenges facing governments, international organisations and public institutions.

Over six weeks, fellows will take part in lectures, workshops, practical exercises, simulations, site visits, practitioner discussions, individual research and collaborative learning.

The programme is designed to strengthen participants' ability to operate effectively in rapidly changing and uncertain security environments while building professional connections across Europe and the United Kingdom.

Key Areas of Learning

The fellowship is organised around six interconnected themes:

• Global Leadership in an Era of Complexity
• Understanding People, Culture and Organisations
• Cyber Resilience and Information Threats
• Artificial Intelligence, Governance and Emerging Technology
• Strategic Decision-Making Under Pressure
• Building Resilience and Future Leadership

Through these areas, fellows will explore how leadership, organisational culture, governance and human behaviour influence institutional effectiveness and resilience.

Participants will also examine the opportunities and risks associated with cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

What Fellows Will Gain

During the programme, participants will have opportunities to:

• Critically examine contemporary leadership, strategic and organisational challenges.
• Develop approaches to strategic decision-making under uncertainty and competing pressures.
• Understand how organisational culture and human behaviour affect resilience and vulnerability.
• Explore emerging cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and technology-related risks.
• Strengthen their ability to work across professional, cultural and national boundaries.
• Learn from experienced practitioners and security professionals.
• Visit UK institutions and gain insight into relevant security and defence structures.
• Build long-term professional networks with other European security and defence professionals.

Research Project

As part of the fellowship, each participant will undertake an individual research project addressing a relevant policy, leadership, organisational or security challenge.

Fellows will receive academic support while developing their research and will have an opportunity to present their findings to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London at the conclusion of the programme.

Fellowship Duration

The fellowship lasts six weeks, with two cohorts available:

Cohort 1: 25 January – 5 March 2027

Cohort 2: 15 March – 23 April 2027

Host Institution

The programme is hosted by Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham.

Cranfield University delivers the fellowship as part of the Chevening programme, which is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Programme duration: Six weeks
Host: Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
Funding: Fully funded
Location: United Kingdom
Cohorts: January–March 2027 and March–April 2027

The application deadline has been extended to Monday, 12 October 2026.